PROFILE OF ARCHBISHOP OSWALD GOMIS
 
MOST REV. DR. OSWALD GOMIS
ARCHBISHOP OF COLOMBO
Chancellor of the University of Colombo
His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis was born on 12th December 1932 at Kelaniya. He received his primary education at St. Joseph's College. He joined the Seminary in 1950 and was ordained priest on 3rd February 1958. He received his Episcopal Ordination on 17th July 1968. During his years of service in the Archdiocese he has been a Lecturer at St. Aloysius' Seminary, Colombo (1958-1960), Director - Catholic Press, Colombo (1960-1961), Director cum Editor - Catholic Press (1961-1968), Editor - Gnanartha Pradeepaya (Sri Lanka's National Catholic weekly and oldest Sinhala newspaper in Sri Lanka - 1961-1968), Founder/Editor - Lama Pradipaya, Children's Weekly, Editor - Duthaya, Catholic National Monthly dedicated to promote Family Life and Culture.

He is the pioneer of opening Branch Schools outside Colombo, which are affliated to the Colleges in the city, in order to provide better educational facilities to the children in the villages with the same privileges available for the children in the city. His long standing relationships with the Buddhist clergy and the Buddhist people have often been appreciated and that has helped the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka to have better enviornment to communicate with the Buddhists.

Archbishop Oswald Gomis contributed and participated in the following events listed below:
Archbishop Oswald Gomis meeting the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI in 2005
 
 
ECCLESIASTICAL
 
  • Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo (1968-1996)
  • Bishop of Anuradhapura (15.01.1996 – 27.07.2002)
  • Archbishop of Colombo – appointed on 06.07.2002
  • Installed as the Archbishop of Colombo - on 27.07.2002
  • Secretary, Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (1968-1975)
  • Secretary General, Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (1975-1983), (1989-1995)
  • President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (1998 - 2005)
  • Also served as Chairman of commissions for Education, Culture, Liturgy, Justice and Peace, Catechesis, Bible Translation, Social Communications, Tourism and Migration, Health Care and Prisons at different intervals.
  • Designed the Catholic Flag for the Church in Sri Lanka
  • Established the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate – 2004
  • Invited the Sisters of  Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King to the Archdiocese
  • Invited the Sisters of the Congregation of  the Daughters of St. Camillus to serve in the Archdiocese
  • Invited the Fathers of the OFM Conventuals to serve the Archdiocese – 2006
   
 
EDUCATIONAL WORK
   
 
  • Founded – St. Peter’s College, Gampaha.
  • Founded – St. Peter's College, Udugampola Branch
  • Founded – Holy Cross College, Payagala Branch.
  • Founded – St. Joseph’s College, Enderamulla.
  • Founded – St. Joseph's College – Kadolkele Branch
  • Founded – Loyola College – Bopitiya Branch
  • Founded – Christ the King College – Weliweriya Branch
   
 
SOCIAL WORK
   
 
  • Donated Health Centre to the people of Kelaniya.
  • Donated Land for Home for the Aged in Kelaniya (Home being constructed).
  • Involved in housing schemes for the poor.
  • Initiated Relief and Rehabilitation work of the Tsunami in 2004
  • Construction of houses for Tsunami victims and supplying of livelihood
  • Construction of schools for children
  • Starting a Scholarship Programme for the Tsunami affected children
   
 
CIVIL
   
 
  • Member, University Council - University of Colombo (1977-2001)
  • Member, University Legislation Committee – University of Colombo (1977-2001)
  • Member, Committee to set up Chair for Christian Civilization – University of Kelaniya.
  • Chairman, Roman Catholic religious Affairs Advisory Board (1968-1977)
  • Member of committee to Investigate, Illicit Importation of Newsprint – 1964
  • Member of committee to report on Impact of Tourism on culture (Ministry of Cultural Affairs – 1980)
  • Headed the Christian Team to the All Party Conference (on Ethnic Issue) 1984
  • Chairman, Catholic Advisory Board, Sri Lanka Boardcasting Corporation.
  • Member, Catholic Advisory Board, Rupavahini Corporation.
  • Member, All Party Conference on ethnic issue.
  • Member National Committee for the Restoration of the Jaffna Library and Public Libraries in Sri Lanka (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) presently.
  • Chancellor of the University of Colombo (2002 – todate)
  • Member of the Advisory Committee of National Institute of Education
  • Chairman Advisory Committee of "Kithunu Upadeshaka Sabawa" SLBC and Rupavahini – (2002 todate )
  • Organized a Christmas Fellowship lunch for the Buddhist monks on 28.12.2006 at the Archbishop's House, to foster solidarity and understanding.
  • Meeting the President Mahinda Rajapaksha on 29.05.2007 to discuss about the recommendations of the National Commission for Education with regard to the takeover of the Primary Departments of the Catholic Colleges and Schools.
   
 
INTERNATIONAL
   
 
  • Executive Chairman, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) Committee for Social Communications (1971-1982)
  • Member, Board of Directors (PREIC) Radio Veritas, Philippines.
  • Member, Pontifical Commission for Non-Christian Religions, Rome.
  • Member, Board of Directors, International Catholic Film Organization (OCIC) Brussels
  • Member, Standing Committee, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (Hong Kong)
  • Member, Central Committee, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (Hong Kong) presently.
  • Member, Royal Asiatic Society presently
  • Member of the Board of Directors of the International Catholic Committee for Migrants – ICMC (1993-1999)
  • Secretary General, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (2001- 2002)
  • Re-appointed as the Secretary General, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (2002 – 2005)
  • Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI appointed as a Synodal Father on 08.09.2005
  • Meeting the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 02.05.2007 to discuss about the situation in the Country.
   
 

INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS ATTENDED
   
 
  1. Attended 4 Plenary Assemblies of FABC held in Manila, Taipei, Calcutta and Bangkok.
  • Also attended several other FABC Formation Institutes (BIRA, BIMA, BISA etc) and Social Communications Meetings (UNDA, OCIC and UCIP) in the Asian Region.
  • Attended the  Asian synod in Roe (1998) leading the Sri Lankan delegation.
  • Attended Synod of Bishops (2001)
  • Ad Limina Visit to the Pope Benedict XVI – October 2005
  • 11th Synod Meeting in Rome in 2nd October to 23rd October 2006
   
 
INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS CHAIRED
   
 
  •  International Population Conference – Baguio City, Philippines.
    Seminar on Inter-religious Dialogue – organized by the Secretariat for Dialogue, Rome (Paris 1971)
    International Seminar on Film OCIC (Petropolis, Brazil 1975)
    Pan Asian Meeting on Social Communications – organised by the Pontifical commission for Social Communications (Tokyo)
   
 
BOOKS PUBLISHED
   
 
  1. Mahopadeshaya (complete Catechism for the family)
  2. Mahopadeshaya in Tamil - 2006
  3. Lama Bibalaya (Bible stories for children)
  4. Sinhalaye Kithunu Urumaya (Christian contribution in Sri Lanka)
  5. Maga Hondata Thibenam (a reply to Christian Fundamentalists)
  6. Santhana Siritha (life of St. Anne)
  7. Yovun Bibalaya (a Bible for Youth)
  8. Devidhano Daruwan Amathannaha (the Bible for children)
  9. Jesu Samidun Bharathaye (Jesus in India – A Response)
  10. Reminiscences of Tewatta – 27.08.2006
  11. 'Tewatte Mathaka Satahan" – 27.08.2006
   
 
AWARDS RECEIVED
   
 
  • Josephian Honours for Excellence – 11th Feb. 1994 (for outstanding and distinguished service to public life)
  • Eminent past pupil – Diamond Jubilee Award 01.06.1995 (for outstanding service to public life)
   
   
Maintained by Rev. Fr. Sunil De Silva - E-mail : sunilde@sltnet.lk
ARCHDIOCESE OF COLOMBO - SRI LANKA